Huskers Fall to Purdue in Big Ten Home Opener

Lincoln - The Nebraska
soccer team (4-5-1, 1-1-0 Big Ten) played to double overtime for its second
straight game on Friday night, and was unable to come away with a victory in
its Big Ten home opener. With the game tied at 1-1, the Purdue Boilermakers
(6-3-1, 1-1-0 Big Ten) got a goal from Taylor Niewoit just 58 seconds into the
second overtime period to secure a 2-1 win.

Nebraska
held a 15-10 advantage in shots on the night, including 10 on goal, but was
only able to get one ball past Purdue goalie Clara Kridler. Purdue posted two
more corner kicks than the Huskers, 5-3, with one of the five corner kicks proving
to be the difference, as Niewoit's game-winning header came off a corner kick
from Jordan Frick.

The
Huskers struck first in the game when Mayme Conroy put in her team-leading
fifth goal of the season. Following a corner kick from Caroline Gray, both Ari
Romero and Jaylyn Odermann headed the ball, before Conroy struck the back of
the net to put NU up 1-0 at the 24:25 mark.

Nebraska
continued to hold the lead until 50:31 when Alex Hairston scored an unassisted
goal for her third of the season. Hairston took the ball at midfield and split
NU's defense to setup a 1-vs.-1 situation with NU goalie Emma Stevens. Hairston
was able to get close enough to pull Stevens one way and then fired the other
way to tie the game at 1-1.

The
two squads then went scoreless over the next 40 minutes to force overtime.
Nebraska got off two shots in the first overtime period and held Purdue at bay,
but was unable to find the net, forcing a second overtime, where Purdue capitalized.

The
Huskers get back on the field on Sunday when they host the Indiana Hoosiers for
a 1 p.m. game at the Nebraska Soccer Field. It is a Pepsi Pack the House game
on campus, which means tickets are $1 and Pepsi products are $1. The game will
also be streamed live on BTN.com.